About ecuador

Ecuador - an Introduction . . .

Ecuador is a
remarkable country, for its natural riches, its cultural diversity and
history, and its peoples and traditions. Every corner of the country
can offer something different for the traveler, from the spectacular
tropical coastline with its laid-back fishing villages and populations of African origin, to the
Amazon rainforest and its various indigenous peoples and its amazing
biodiversity, to the volcanos of the Andes Mountains and the traditional agriculture of the Incas which has survived to the present day, as well as the spectacular and unique Galapagos Islands.

With this diversity of terrain Ecuador offers a wide variety of outdoor
activities, from mountain climbing, trekking, and mountain biking to white-water
rafting, rappeling, swimming and diving, and just relaxing in the great outdoors. And with its colonial history, cities such as Quito, Cuenca and Riobamba offer unparalleled opportunities to explore the past with some of the best preserved colonial architecture in the Americas.

Ecuador's history . . .

Ecuador's history began 15 to 20 thousand years ago with the rise of indigenous
societies in the region. These populations were well developed, and
archeological sites throughout the country provide evidence of their
existence. Prior to the Spanish conquest, Ecuador formed part of the
northern Inca Empire. Today, Ecuador has a wide diversity of
indigenous populations descended from these early inhabitants.

Ecuador Today . . .

Today,
Ecuador has a population of close to 13 million people. Most of these
live in the Sierra or the Coastal regions.The country has more than
17 indigenous groups, with most maintaining their traditions and way
of life. Spanish is the primary language, but there are several
indigenous languages still spoken in some areas of the country. The
predominant religion is Catholicism, but in some areas, traditional
worship of the earth, sun and mountains is still preserved.

Ecuador is a
relatively poor country economically, but has vast riches in its
resources. Currently, Ecuador's economy is sustained by exports of
these resources, including oil and timber. The country also exports
bananas, coffee, cocoa, shrimp, tuna, and flowers. Other exports
include some fruits and vegetables as well as products of small
industries such as handicrafts. Agriculture is a primary activity in
most of rural Ecuador, providing the livelihood for most of its
people.

Ecuador's Mega-Diversity . . .

Ecuador is
one of the top 17 nations of the world with respect to biodiversity. This relatively small country has over 1600 species of birds, 4500
species of butterflies, about 350 species of both reptiles and
amphibians, and over 350 species of mammals. Nearly 25,000 species of
trees and 10,000 species of plants live in the Amazon. There are 24
national parks and reserves, and although protection of these areas is
weak, nearly all offer amazing landscapes unlike others to be found
anywhere. Some of these protected areas are very difficult to access,
allowing serious hikers access to places that are nearly pristine.
Ecuador also includes the Galapagos Islands, a small area with about
600 native species, famous for its unique biodiversity and its
remarkable marine life.

Further, the
variation in terrain and climates of the country means that each area
is unique, offering the visitor plenty to explore. Altitudes range
from sea level to 6,310 meters at the peak of Chimborazo-the point on
the globe furthest away from the center of the earth.There are
several peaks of 5,000 meters or more in the country.

Climate
varies as much as the terrain, ranging to the generally dry climate of
Quito to the rainforests of the Amazon. Rainy seasons vary from one
area to another; the coast has its wet season from December to May and
the Amazon from January to September. The highlands, including Quito,
receive the most rain between November and April. Temperatures at the
coast range from 23 to 26 degrees, with the warmest temperatures
during the wet season. In the Amazon, temperatures range from 23 to
36 degrees. The highlands have a moderately cool climate, with
temperatures between 13 and 18 degrees, although this can vary greatly
with altitude.

Need More Convincing?

True Ecuador Travel is proud to offer a huge range of possible activities and programs in Ecuador, and we are sure that you will not be disappointed - in all likelihood you will leave vowing to return again soon! Visit our videos page to find links to some great videos about Ecuador that will give you a taste of what to expect. And please email us with any questions that you may have, or with your rough dates and preferred activities for us to put together the perfect program for you!

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About True Ecuador Travel

True Ecuador Travel grew out of Yanapuma Foundation and Spanish School. As a social enterprise, self-funding part of the non-profit work that we have carried out since 2006.

We set up True Ecuador Travel as a travel agency and a limited company in Ecuador to be able to offer all the reliability and guarantees that our students and visitors require to make the most out of their time in Ecuador.